City Year Mid Year Pre-Interview Information

Culture and community

City Year’s culture is based on the foundation of teamwork, collaboration and community. We believe in the power of young people to change the world and we strive to create environments where everyone feels they can thrive and do their best work. We embrace differences as strengths that help us meet our goal: to ensure students graduate from high school, prepared for successful adult lives. We work in 29 U.S. cities across the country and our AmeriCorps members come from all 50 states, each one bringing unique experiences to their work with students. Having teams with varied interests, work styles and backgrounds helps to ensure there is an additional caring adult who can connect with and get through to every single student.

The City Year uniform is a symbol of our full-time commitment to service. Please click here for additional information about uniform requirements.

What we look for

• Experience as a tutor, mentor, coach or leader
• Experience working on diverse teams
• Experience working with children
• Demonstration of perseverance in difficult situations
• Commitment to your work and completion of the service year

During the interview, we look for and assess applicants who demonstrate the following competencies:

• Commitment to a cause greater than self
• Empathy
• Self-Management
• Growth Mindset
• Solution Orientation
• Relationship Building Skills

Eligibility requirements

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• Able to dedicate 8 months or 6 months to service
• Between the ages of 17*-25
• U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
• Have served no more than four terms in an AmeriCorps State or National Direct program
• Agree to complete a background or security check

*Must have GED or high school diploma and parent/legal guardian signature required upon onboarding.

Position requirements

• Student Success Coach
  • This is a full-time commitment – a 1200 or 900 hour role that averages 10-12 hours per day, Monday through Friday.
• The minimum hours requirement must be completed within 8 months (1200 hours) or 6 months (900 hours) to successfully graduate the program and receive all benefits.
• For special training and events, you may be required to occasionally work hours outside your typical schedule.
• The mid-year term of service with City Year generally starts in October, December or January (depending on the location) and ends the following June unless stated otherwise by your specific City Year Site. Please note: there will be a mandatory in-person registration day prior to your first day of service. Registration, training, and start dates will be communicated to you as soon as they become available. Failure to show up for registration day will result in a withdrawal of your acceptance in the program.

Benefits

Over the course of your service year, you’ll receive a wide variety of exciting benefits. Please explore the full list of the current fiscal year’s benefits here.

Housing

City Year does not provide housing for AmeriCorps members. You will be responsible for securing your own housing. If you are offered a position to serve with City Year, you will be introduced to your local Service Year Advisor, who will provide information and resources to identify affordable housing and to secure roommates if needed.

Deadlines and processing timelines

Applications are processed on a rolling basis. We will process your application according to the timeline below.

Interviews: Interviews will take place within one to two weeks upon submission of your application.*

Notification: We will notify you of our admissions decision within one to two weeks of your interview. Decisions are given every Thursday.**

Confirmation: If selected to serve, you will have until the following Friday from your notification date to either accept or decline your offer.***

If you are not offered a position with City Year, you may reapply for the following service year as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

*We cannot grant an admissions decision without a valid, complete recommendation form on file. Friends, family members, and neighbors cannot serve as a professional reference.

**You will interview for the location you applied to. If you would like to be considered for another location, please contact your National Admissions Counselor.

***If there are no spots available at your primary location and you are a qualified applicant, we may extend a transfer offer. You will work with your National Admissions Counselor to transfer your application to one of our other available locations.

Eligibility and background check

If you have served four terms (of any length) in an AmeriCorps State or National program you are not eligible to join City Year. If you accept a City Year AmeriCorps member position, you will be required to bring proof of citizenship and employment eligibility documentation to Registration Day. An original Social Security Card is also required. If you cannot demonstrate that you are a US Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident, you are not eligible to serve.

Valid documentation is either:

• US passport
• US Birth Certificate & government issued photo ID
• Legal Permanent Resident Card

Background Check: All AmeriCorps members are required to complete a criminal background check including a National Sex Offender search, FBI Fingerprint search and state searches in their current state of residence and in the state where they will be serving. Applicants who are listed on the National Sex Offender website or have been convicted of murder are not eligible. All other criminal records will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Vacation, holiday & breaks

City Year AmeriCorps Members are required to serve from the first official day of the program through graduation day. Throughout the year, there will be required events that everyone must attend. A full list of dates will be provided at the beginning of the year.

Please note that our AmeriCorps members serve during most school vacations, except Thanksgiving and the holiday break in December. AmeriCorps members receive most Federal Holidays off. Additional time off (9 days for 1200 hours and 7 days for 900 hours) is granted for religious holidays, illness, doctor appointments, or academic/career interviews. However, these requests must first be approved by your supervisor.

Transportation and contact information

Additional questions

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the National Admissions Team.